Horton’s 95-Yard Return, Two TDs Power Seahawks

Tory Horton, a fifth-round pick out of Colorado State, has risen from special-teams hopeful to starting outside receiver after impressing in Seahawks camp, a move that contributed to the release of veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling. In Seattle’s 44-13 rout of the New Orleans Saints, Horton returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown — the longest punt return in franchise history and Seattle’s first punt-return TD since Tyler Lockett in 2015 — and caught a 14-yard TD from Sam Darnold. Horton has five catches for 64 yards and two receiving TDs through three games, making him one of only three players in NFL history with multiple receiving TDs and a return TD in their first three games, joining Tim Brown and Percy Harvin. Seahawks coaches have praised Horton’s ceiling, with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak comparing him to Justin Jefferson. Teammates Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Kenneth Walker III also made key contributions, and Sam Darnold finished 14-of-18 for 218 yards in the victory.